The Top 10 Most Dangerous Days for Pets

BREA, Calif., May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Some of the best days for people—weekends, holidays, summer break—turn out to be the worst for pets. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation's oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, recently analyzed its database of more than 485,000 insured pets to find the most dangerous days for pets in 2010. The company tracked accident claims by treatment day across the entire year to discover that, in general, more accidents occur in the summer months, and the most accidents are treated the day after holidays and weekends. Contrary to popular belief, the company did not find any spike in pet accidents treated on or following full moons.

The amount of accident claims treated spiked following holidays—particularly Labor Day (No. 2), Memorial Day (No. 4) and Easter (No. 9)—and increased overall during the late spring and summer months. June was the most dangerous month of the year, with 4,145 claims for an average of 138 pets treated each day for accidental injuries and five of the Top 10 most dangerous days of the year.  The safest month was December with an average of 108 claims treated each day and only 2 days in the top 50 most dangerous days.

In order to accurately assess the "danger" of a day, the company only analyzed claims submitted for injuries requiring immediate attention, such as broken bones, poisonings, and lacerations. The data revealed that on the average day in 2010, about 118 VPI-insured pets were treated for severe accidental injuries. Of the days of the week, Mondays had the largest average number of pets treated for accidental injuries at 152. Sundays were the lowest at 59.  

"The difference in the number of accidents treated between Sunday and Monday may indicate that treatment is more difficult to find on Sundays and holidays," said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. "In case of an off-hours or holiday emergency, pet owners should know where to find the closest 24-hour animal hospital and have a plan for covering unexpected treatment costs. Preparation and timely treatment can make the difference between life and death."

While some people may suspect that full moons cause an increase in emergency room visits and accidental injuries, VPI actually saw a slight decrease in the average number of pets treated for accidental injuries—107—on days with a full moon. There was only one "Friday the Thirteenth" in 2010. VPI received 112 claims for accidental injuries on that day in August, which was below the average for the year, month and for Fridays in general.

For a full breakdown of the data, visit http://on.fb.me/dangerousdays.

About Veterinary Pet Insurance

With more than 485,000 pets insured nationwide, Veterinary Pet Insurance Co./DVM Insurance Agency is the No. 1 veterinarian-recommended pet health insurance company and is a member of the Nationwide Insurance family of companies. Providing pet owners with peace of mind since 1982, the company is committed to being the trusted choice of America's pet lovers and an advocate of pet health education. VPI Pet Insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Optional CareGuard® Coverage is available for routine care.

Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 2,000 companies nationwide offer VPI Pet Insurance as an employee benefit. Policies are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and in all other states by National Casualty Company, an A+15 rated company in Madison, Wisconsin. Pet owners can find VPI Pet Insurance on Facebook or follow @VPI on Twitter. For more information about VPI Pet Insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.

SOURCE Veterinary Pet Insurance